Sexual function in women before and after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate sexual function in women before and after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) using native tissue repair. DesignA prospective observational study. SettingDanish university hospital, between December 2008 and May 2010. PopulationEighty-one patients who had a POP operation with native tissue repair performed. MethodsThe patients completed a validated Danish questionnaire on prolapse, the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire - 12 Short Form (PISQ-12-SF), and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) before undergoing surgery and six months postoperatively. Main outcome measuresDifferences in PISQ-12-SF measures six months after the operation in different types of POP operations. ResultsPreoperatively, the PISQ-12-SF score (meanSD) was 35.2 +/- 4.6 and postoperatively 38.3 +/- 3.9, giving a significant difference of 3.0 +/- 3.8. (p<0.05). Thirty-seven women (72%) improved their PISQ-12-SF score postoperatively, nine (18%) had an equal score, and five (10%) reported a lower score. There was no significant difference in the PISQ-12-SF scores between different operations. The ICIQ-UI-SF showed an overall improvement in incontinence postoperatively with a small correlation to PISQ-12-SF. ConclusionsThe majority of patients who undergo operation for different kinds of POP using native tissue repair, experience an improvement in their sexual life postoperatively. Most women with preoperative urinary incontinence experienced cure or improvement after POP surgery.